Vase consisting of a packaging provided with a stabilization system

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a vase that is constituted by a package that comprises two faces that are connected together, both faces being flexible and presenting flap portions at both of their respective longitudinal ends, which flap portions are suitable for being folded inwards relative to said faces. In the bottom portion, each of the two flap portions presents an inside edge that constitutes a fold line that is interrupted by a cut line that presents an extreme point that lies on the straight line that is defined by the two side ends of said inside edge. In the top portion, the two flap portions include passage means for passing flower stems or stalks.

This is a 371 national phase application of PCT/FR2010/051087 filed 03Jun. 2010, which claims priority to French Patent Application No.0953704 filed 04 Jun. 2009, the contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vase that is constituted by a packagethat is fitted with a stabilization system, said vase finding itsapplication in particular in giving flowers, by making it possible toimprove the presentation of the flowers when they are being given, andalso to eliminate the need for is the person to whom the flowers arebeing given to be in possession of a suitable vase.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such a package may be produced in particular by manufactures ofpackaging made of cardboard or of composite materials, and veryparticularly finds its application in commercial premises of theflower-shop type.

The patent published under number FR 1 469 650 discloses a package madeof cardboard for packaging and presenting certain varieties of plants.The package has the shape of a cube or even of a rectangular block,presenting in its top portion four flaps that are configured toconstitute an opening through which plant stems can pass. The base ofthe cube or of the rectangular block enables the plant to be supported.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to design a vase that is constituted by apackage that, in particular, is for receiving flowers or even any typeof decorative object that presents a stem. An advantage of the vase ofthe invention is to improve the presentation of flowers when they arebeing given, and to enable the person to whom the flowers are beinggiven to be able to display said flowers without needing to possess avase of more traditional design, e.g., made of glass or of terracotta.

To this end, the invention relates to a vase that is constituted by apackage that includes two adjoining faces of shapes that arelongitudinal, and preferably similar. The two adjoining faces aredirectly connected together, at least at the common sides at one of theends of their longitudinal edges, in the bottom portion. Preferably, thelongitudinal edges are common to both faces over their entire length;however, it is possible to envisage the presence of side faces ofconical shape interconnecting the two longitudinal faces, in whichconfiguration the tips of the conical shapes constitute said ends thatare common to the longitudinal edges.

In addition, both faces are flexible and present flap portions at bothof their respective longitudinal ends, which flap portions may inparticular be convex in shape. However, it is possible to envisage othersimilar shapes, such as a lozenge shape or some other shape. The flapportions are suitable for being folded inwards relative to saidlongitudinal faces, substantially at is right angles. Thus, putting theflap portions or flaps into place enables the two longitudinal faces tobulge out, creating a volume as a result of the convex or similar shape,said volume making it possible in particular for flower stems to bepositioned. In the folded position, the flap portions shut off the twolongitudinal ends of the volume created in this way, thereby making itpossible to close said volume in part, and to contain the stems of theflowers.

Furthermore, and in remarkable manner, the two adjacent flap portions atone of the longitudinal ends of the two faces, i.e., the flap portionsthat are situated beside the common ends of the two bottom longitudinaledges, present respective inside edges, in particular of convex orsimilar shape, depending on the shape of said flap portions, the insideedges constituting respective fold lines. Each of the fold lines isinterrupted by at least one respective cut line that curves towards theinside of the flap portion, the cut line being of concave or similarshape, for example, and presenting at least one extreme point that lieson a straight line that is defined by the two side ends of said insideedge, which side ends correspond to the common ends of the longitudinaledges. Thus, when the volume is formed, i.e., when the flap portions aremore or less at right angles relative to the longitudinal faces, saidlongitudinal faces present respective bearing tabs that correspond tothe curved cut lines and that present extreme points that lie in thesame plane as the two ends of the inside edges, that are common to theadjacent flap portions of each of the longitudinal faces, and thatcorrespond to the common ends of the longitudinal edges. Thus, the twoextreme points of the bearing tabs and the two common ends are arrangedin the same plane, thereby making it possible for the vase to stand in avertical position in a suitably stable manner.

Furthermore, the two flap portions adjacent to the other longitudinalends of the two faces, in the top portion, include passage means thatare arranged so as to allow flower stems or stalks in particular to passwhen the vase is formed, the flap portions being positioned more or lessat right angles. By way of example, the passage means are constituted byat least one perforation or hole in one of the adjacent flap portions,in which configuration the second flap portion slopes at slightly morethan 90° relative to its longitudinal face, so as to enable stems orstalks to pass. However, in a variant, it is possible to provide atleast one perforation or hole in each of the adjacent flap portions, theperforations corresponding when the adjacent flap portions are arrangedsubstantially at right angles relative to their longitudinal face,thereby enabling stems or stalks to pass through so as to be inserted inthe package constituting a vase.

In an embodiment of the present invention, in the bottom portion, theinside edge of each of the adjacent flap portions includes a single cutline that is curved and that is arranged centrally. However, otherembodiments can be envisaged; for example, it is possible to provide twouniformly-distributed cut lines in each of the inside edges of theadjacent bottom flap portions.

In a preferred embodiment, the curved cut lines are circularly arcuateor concave in shape. However, it is possible to envisage other shapes,e.g., a triangular shape, that also make it possible to constituteextreme points that lie on the straight line that is defined by the twoends of the inside edge.

In an embodiment, the two longitudinal edges of the two longitudinalfaces are rectilinear and parallel to each other. In particular, thismakes it possible to increase the volume of the vase in its bottomportion, e.g., so as to arrange therein, flower foam into which theflower stems are pushed, or so as to arrange therein, ballast means oreven water, when the flowers are real or fresh.

In a variant, the two longitudinal edges of the faces are rectilinearand slope relative to each other, forming a cone.

In a variant, on at least one of its faces, the package includes atransparent window that advantageously makes it possible to see thecontents of said package, e.g., decorative beads or pebbles, or even thequantity of water present in the vase when said vase receives realflowers.

In the invention, the vase includes leaktight means that are configuredso as to enable said vase to receive water in which the flower stems arearranged when said flowers are real flowers. This makes it possible tokeep the flowers fresh over a longer period of time.

In a preferred design, the leaktight means are constituted by aleaktight pouch that is arranged inside the volume of the package.

In the invention, the vase includes ballast means that are arranged inthe volume of the package, which ballast means make it possible tostabilize the vase and to compensate for the force exerted by the weightof the flowers, which tends to cause the vase to topple over.

In a preferred design, the ballast means are foam into which the ends ofthe flower stems can be pushed. However, it is also possible to envisageother ballast means, such as water contained in the above-mentionedleaktight pouch, or even pebbles, beads, or other means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention appear onreading the following description which refers to the figures, in which:

FIGS. 1 to 4 show front and side views of a prior-art package in itsdeployed mode and in its folded use mode;

FIGS. 5 to 7 show front and side views of a first embodiment of the vaseof the invention, in its deployed mode and in its folded use mode;

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a variant embodiment of the vase of theinvention in its deployed mode, said package presenting a transparentwindow;

FIG. 9 shows the vase of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 shows another variant embodiment of the vase of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The prior art discloses a package 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, thatpresents two faces 2 a and 2 b of identical shape and size andpresenting a longitudinal shape. The adjacent longitudinal edges 3 a, 3b and 4 a, 4 b of the two longitudinal faces 2 a, 2 b and connectedtogether, e.g., by adhesive or by heat-sealing, depending on thematerial used, which material may be cardboard or a composite material,for example. The two longitudinal faces 2 a, 2 b are superposed andcoincide, as shown in particular in FIG. 1. Each of the longitudinalfaces 2 a, 2 b comprises a central portion 5 a, 5 b together with twoportions that are arranged at the longitudinal ends of said faces 2 a, 2b, and referred to below as flap portions 6 a, 6 b, 7 a, 7 b, whichportions present in particular a convex shape, each with an inside edge8 a, 8 b, 9 a, 9 b of shape that is convex and that constitutes a foldline for folding said flap portions 6 a, 6 b, 7 a, 7 b.

In use mode, the flap portions 6 a, 6 b, 7 a, 7 b should be foldedinwards relative to the portions 5 a, 5 b of the longitudinal faces 2 a,2 b through an angle that is approximately equal to 90°, therebyenabling the two longitudinal faces 2 a, 2 b to bulge out, both in theircentral portions 5 a, 5 b and in their flap portions 6 a, 6 b, 7 a, 7 b,as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the use position, in which the flapportions are put into place as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the package thusdefines a volume that serves, in the prior art, to contain items such asfabrics, cosmetics, confectionery, or other items, while the flapportions 6 a, 6 b, 7 a, 7 b close said volume.

Variant shapes may be obtained depending on the convex shape given tothe flap portions 6 a, 6 b, 7 a, 7 b that, in the extreme limit, mayconsist of a lozenge, thereby making it possible to obtain, in the useposition, a package that presents sharp edges, in particular at themiddle axes of the longitudinal faces.

The vase of the present invention, shown in several variants in FIGS. 5to 10, has characteristics that are similar to the characteristics ofthe package 1 of the prior art shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. Thus, the variantsshown in FIGS. 5 to 9 include in common a package 10, 12, 44 thatpresents two faces 14 a, 14 b, each of which comprises a central portion15 a, 15 b and two portions 16 a, 16 b, 17 a, 17 b that are arranged atthe longitudinal ends of the faces 14 a, 14 b, said portions beingreferred to below as flap portions 16 a, 16 b, 17 a, 17 b.

Compared to the package 1 of the prior art shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, theessential difference in the package constituting the vase of the presentinvention, in the various possible variants, relates to the inside edgesof the bottom flap portions 17 a, 17 b, which inside edges enable saidflap portions to be folded relative to the central portions 15 a, 15 b,so as to shape the package to define a volume that enables flower stemsto be received.

In this respect, in a first embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, it shouldbe observed that the bottom inside edges 18 a, 18 b that connect theflap portions 17 a, 17 b to the central portions 15 a, 15 b compriserespective fold lines 19 a, 19 b that are interrupted by cut lines 20 a,20 b that curve towards the insides of said flap portions 17 a, 17 b.The cut lines 20 a, 20 b present respective extreme points 21 a, 21 bthat lie on the straight line d1 that is defined by the two ends 22 a &23 a, 22 b & 23 b of each of said inside edges 18 a, 18 b, as shown inFIG. 5. In contrast, and as shown in FIG. 5, the top flap portions 16 a,16 b include respective inside edges 24 a, 24 b that are similar to theinside edges of the prior art, i.e., comprising respective convex foldlines that extend over its entire width. Thus, when the flap portions 16a, 16 b, 17 a, 17 b are put into place, i.e., when they are foldedinwards at right angles relative to the central portions 15 a, 15 b ofthe two faces 14 a, 14 b, the package 10 constituting the vase thusenables two lugs 25 a, 25 b to appear, which lugs present two extremepoints 21 a, 21 b that lie in the same plane P1 as the common side ends22 a, 22 b, 23 a, 23 b of the inside edges 18 a, 18 b, therebyguaranteeing that the package 10 formed in this way is stable.

Exactly the same characteristics are found in the variant embodiment ofthe package 12 constituting the vase as shown in FIG. 8, the flapportions 17 a, 17 b in the bottom portion of each of the faces 14 a, 14b of said package 12, each including respective inside edges 18 a, 18 bthat present fold lines 19 a, 19 b that are interrupted by respectivecut lines 20 a, 20 b that curve towards the insides of the flapportions, each cut line presenting an extreme point 21 a, 21 b that lieson the straight line d1 defined by the ends 22 a & 23 a, 22 b & 23 b ofthe inside edges 18 a, 18 b.

In the variant shown in FIG. 8, the package 12 constituting the vaseincludes a window 35 that is arranged in one of the faces 14 b. However,it is possible to provide such a window in each of the faces 14 a, 14 b,or even a plurality of windows 35 in one or both faces. The window 35may be constituted by a mere cutout in the longitudinal face 14 b, oreven by the use of a transparent material so as to allow the contents ofthe vase, e.g., water, beads, or pebbles, to appear in part.

In the embodiment of the package constituting the vase shown in FIGS. 5to 7, the connected-together adjacent longitudinal edges 36 a & 36 b, 37a, & 37 b of each of the two longitudinal faces 14 a, 14 b arerectilinear and slope towards each other forming a cone. In FIGS. 5 to7, the cone is oriented upwards. However, in a variant embodiment of avase constituted by such a package and as shown in FIG. 9, it ispossible to provide, in similar manner, a cone that slopes downwards. Inthe variant shown in FIG. 8, the longitudinal edges 38 a & 38 b, 39 a &39 b of each of the two longitudinal faces 14 a, 14 b are rectilinearand parallel to each other.

Naturally other variants can be envisaged without going beyond the ambitof the present invention.

In the various embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 to 10, each inside edge 18a, 18 b of the package 10, 12, 44, 49 constituting the vase includes asingle cut line 20 a, 20 b in the shape of circular arcs and that isarranged centrally or in the middle. However, it is possible to providea plurality of cut lines on each bottom inside edge 18 a, 18 b, whichcut lines are uniformly distributed and are possibly of some otherdifferent shape, e.g., triangular, each having an extreme point lying onthe straight line d1.

As shown in FIG. 9, once put into shape, the package 44 constitutes thevase of the invention, said vase presenting a shape that flares upwards.In its bottom portion, the package 44 thus includes lugs 45 thatconstitute bearing tabs as described above for the other variants shownin FIGS. 5 to 8. Furthermore, in the top portion, the flap portions 46a, 46 b include perforations or holes 47 through which flower stems canpass, as shown in FIG. 9. Such perforations or holes 47 also appear inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 8, there can be seen a variantembodiment of the perforations or holes 47 a.

It is possible to envisage forming the perforations or holes 47, 47 a inthe two top flap portions 16 a, 16 b. In this configuration, the twoflap portions 16 a, 16 b are folded at right angles, i.e., through anangle approximately equal to 90°, producing a configuration such as theconfiguration shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

In a variant, it is possible to envisage forming the perforations orholes 47, 47 a in only one of the top flap portions 16 a or 16 b. Inthis configuration, only the flap portion 16 a or 16 b that is providedwith the perforation or hole 47, 47 a is folded, the other flap portion16 b or 16 a continuing to extend the central portion 15 b or 15 a. Thismakes it possible to produce attractive effects on the vase. Othervariants of passage means for passing flower stems or stalks can beenvisaged without going beyond the ambit of the invention.

Naturally, the vase constituted by such a package 10, 12, 44, 49 is notleaktight and is therefore suitable for receiving artificial flowers.However, for real flowers, it is possible to envisage adding a smallleaktight pouch inside the vase, in which pouch water is poured so as topreserve the real flowers. It is possible to provide other leaktightmeans that make it possible to fill the vase with water.

It is also possible to envisage adding ballast means into the vase,e.g., foam into which the ends of artificial flower stems are poked, orwater that is poured into the pouch so as to preserve real flowers. Itis also possible to provide beads or pebbles that also ballast the vaseand that may produce attractive effects when the package 12 constitutingsaid vase includes a window 35 as shown in FIG. 8.

In the variant shown in FIG. 10, it should be observed that thelongitudinal faces 48 a, 48 b of the package 49 constituting the vase ofthe invention, are interconnected by means of side faces 50 a, 50 b thatare triangular or conical in shape, the tips or vertex angles 51 a, 51 bpointing downwards. The longitudinal edges 52 a & 52 b, 53 a & 53 b ofthe two longitudinal faces 48 a, 48 b constitute the sides of the vertexangles, the bottom ends of said longitudinal edges, constituting thevertex angles 51 a, 51 b, being in common. Thus, the use of flapportions in accordance with the invention and as described for the abovevariants, makes it possible to provide a bearing tab 54 b on eachlongitudinal face 48 a, 48 b, each bearing tab presenting an extremepoint 55 b that is arranged in the same plane P3 as the common ends ofthe two longitudinal edges, constituted by the vertex angles 51 a, 51 b.

In the variant shown in FIG. 10, it should be observed that the vaseincludes a plurality of perforations or holes 47 b, 47 c, 47 d throughwhich the flower stems can pass.

Naturally, it is possible to provide other variant embodiments thatcombine the above-described characteristics for a variety of variantvases.

Such a package constituting the vase of the invention is fabricated bymanufacturers of items made of cardboard, or by manufacturers of itemsmade of polymer or composite material. The package is for use in varioustypes of commercial premises, in particular florists.

1. A vase that is constituted by a package, wherein the packagecomprises two faces of longitudinal shape, which faces are directlyconnected together, at least at the common sides at one of the ends ofthe longitudinal edges of said faces, both faces being flexible andpresenting flap portions at both of their respective longitudinal ends,in particular flap portions of convex shape, said flap portions beingsuitable for being folded inwards relative to said faces, in particularat right angles, the two adjacent flap portions that are situated at thebottoms of the two longitudinal edges, presenting respective insideedges, in particular convex edges, constituting fold lines, each of thefold lines being interrupted by at least one respective cut line thatcurves towards the inside of the flap portion and that presents at leastone extreme point that lies on the straight line that is defined by thetwo side ends of said inside edge, the two flap portions in the topportion including passage means that are arranged so as to allow flowerstems or stalks to pass when said package is formed.
 2. A vase accordingto claim 1, wherein each inside edge includes a single cut line that iscurved and that is arranged centrally.
 3. A vase according to claim 2,wherein the curved cut line is circularly arcuate in shape.
 4. A vaseaccording to claim 1, wherein the two longitudinal edges of the facesare rectilinear and parallel to each other.
 5. A vase according to claim1, wherein the two longitudinal edges of the faces are rectilinear andslope relative to each other, forming a cone.
 6. A vase according toclaim 1, including leaktight means that are arranged inside the package.7. A vase according to claim 6, the leaktight means consisting of aleaktight pouch.
 8. A vase according to claim 1, including ballast meansthat are arranged in the package.
 9. A vase according to claim 8, theballast means being foam.